Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep EA: Research and Recovery Actions

A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for this project was signed by the NPS Regional Director Christine S. Lehnertz on August 8, 2011. The FONSI, EA, Errata, and wilderness minimum requirement analysis constitutes the record of the environmental impact analysis and decision-making process for this project.

The EA analyzed the no action alternative and three action alternatives. The NPS selected Alternative 4: Implement Bighorn Sheep Research and Monitoring with Translocations. The selected alternative has been modified slightly from the alternative presented in the EA. While the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is still a cooperating agency in the NPS research project, they will not be issuing a permit to the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) to land a helicopter within Inyo National Forest wilderness, as originally proposed. Instead, the USFS will be conducting a separate analysis for CDFG actions which may need to be taken for their implementation of the Recovery Plan for Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Recovery Plan) activities on USFS lands. This modification does not result in a change in any of the determinations of environmental consequences.

The first research and monitoring captures are scheduled for October 2011 and translocations will begin as soon as feasible which could be as early as 2012.

The FONSI, errata, and wilderness minimum requirement analysis are linked to this website.